HP Canada and CONTACT Toronto Photography Festival announced today that Paul Teolis of Toronto is the winner of the HP 2006 Photo Contest “Imaging a Global Culture.”
Teolis’ image, titled “Graffiti Penguin,” was chosen by a panel of distinguished judges consisting of photographer Edward Burtynsky, gallery owner Nicholas Metivier and Toronto Star photo editor Ken Faught. More than 1,400 images were submitted to the contest from across Canada. “Graffiti Penguin” features the image of a penguin overshadowed in its natural habitat in the Antarctic by what appears to be an oil storage tank with a graffiti-encrusted exterior.
“Judging this competition was difficult as there were so many compelling images submitted,” said Burtynsky. “Paul Teolis’ image truly captures the theme of the contest, depicting environmental and ecological transformation. It shows the encroachment of industrialization on the penguin’s habitat, but also the feeling of hope through the penguin itself.”
HP Canada and CONTACT Toronto Photography Festival launched the photo contest in April 2006. Contestants were asked to submit up to two digital images that articulate globalization and the increasing cycle of interconnectedness on a world-scale, whether it be economic, environmental, political, technological or cultural. Many photographs were reproduced using the latest HP digital printing technology and then hung on the walls of the HP Gallery set up for the duration of the festival.
“The “Imaging a Global Culture” photo contest was a tremendous success,” said Danny Ionescu, vice president, sales and marketing, Graphic Arts, HP Canada. “The competition was developed to inspire creativity and artistic expression in digital photography. We’re thrilled with the outstanding number of high-calibre images that were submitted and are proud that we were able to print and showcase such talent in the HP Gallery.”
The second-place winner of the contest was Ian Ligertwood of Toronto with his image titled “Do Not Cross,”, which symbolizes how the world has changed post 9/11 and explores political states, physical boundaries and the power of popular American icons.
Dave Woods, also of Toronto, received third place for his photo “Kolkata Garbage,” which addresses poverty, pollution and congestion and its relationship with rapid economic growth. The contest winners will be awarded with a portfolio review, and prizes from HP, including the grand prize of an HP Designjet 130 photo printer with $1,000 in HP supplies; an HP Designjet 90r photo printer as second prize; and an HP Photosmart 8750 photo printer as third prize.